Apparatus for developing the lungs.



V. J. SGHAEFPER & J. M. DEMPSEY.

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING THBLUNGS. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 8.

94:0,??35. Patented N0v.23,1909.

4 F i Ti? f6 .8

WITNESSES: INVENTORS Arron/var UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR J. SCI-IAEFFER AND JAMES M. DEIVIPSEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING THE ing of the Lungs, of which the followingis:

a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved, simpleand inexpensive device for exercising and developing the lungs, wherebythe prevention and cure of tuberculosis may be accomplished orfacilitated, and to provide an instrument of this kind whereby the airmay be continuously exhaled by the patient against a pressure whichproduces a corresponding air pressure on the. diseased and undevelopedcells of the lungs and thereby exercises them and aids their growth anddevelopment.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a lung exerciser constructedaccording to this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail of the retaining disk orplate. Fig. 3 isa detail of the valve disk. Fig. 4 is an exterior viewof the casing.

In the construction shown in the drawing, the body or casing l istubular and has a ball-shaped enlargement at each end, the ball at theinlet end being considerably smaller in diameter than the other andserving as a mouthpiece. The air passage through the casing comprises achamber 2 adjacent to the large end of the casing and a contractedpassage 3 which extends longitudinally through the casing in alinementwith the chamber 2. The passage 3 is preferably a straight cylindricalbore, and the chamber 2 is an enlargement thereof or counterbore. In thechamber 2 is seated the valve disk 4 which normally closes the inner endof the passage 3. The disk 4 is yieldingly held against its seat by thespring 5 which bears against the retaining disk or plate 6 secured inthe outer end of the chamber 2. The valve 4 has a plurality of apertures7 around its periphery, and the retaining disk 6 has a contractedcentral aperture 8, so that when the'valve is away from its seat air mayflow continuously through the passage in the casing.

In the operation of the device, the user Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed December 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 467,122.

places the smaller end in his mouth and closes his teeth and lips uponthe contracted middle part. Air is then inhaled into the lungs throughthe nose, and exhaled by way of the mouth through the instriunent. Thespring 5 exerts a pressure on the valve4 sufiicient to cause a backpressure upon the air in the lungs. This back pressure forces the 'airinto the diseased or undeveloped cells of When the pressure of the airovercomes the tension of the spring 5, the

the lungs.

valve 4 yields and permits the escape of the air through the apertures 7and 8. The contracted aperture 8 restricts the escape of air and,together with the valve spring, main tains a steady back pressure on theexhaled air. In order to exhale against this back pressure, it isnecessary for the user to contract his abdominal muscles in a naturalmanner. This causes his diaphragm to rise, exerting pressure upon thelung tissues and forcing the air contained therein to enter lung cellsnot ordinarily used. As is Well known, the oxygen in fresh air has acurative eifect upon the diseased air cells and serves to enlarge,multiply, and render more healthy those air cells which are notdiseased.

We claim 1. A device for exercising the lungs, comprising a body havinga mouthpiece at one end, a contracted air passage extending into thebody from said mouthpiece, an enlarged chamber at the inner end of saidpassage, a valve movably mounted in said chamber and adapted to controlcommunication between said passage and chamber, a spring normally urgingsaid valve toward its seat so as to resist the inward fiow of airthrough said passage, and an air outlet from said chamber beyond saidvalve, said valve and chamber being arranged to permit the flow of airaround said valve when it is clear of its seat.

2. A device for exercising the lungs, comprising a body'shaped to form amouthpiece at one end, a contracted bore extending inward of the bodythrough said mouthpiece, an enlarged bore extending into the body fromthe opposite end and communicating with said first bore, a valve diskslidablv mounted in said enlarged bore and adapted to close the innerend of said contracted bore, a closure for the outer end of saidenlarged'bore and having a contracted outlet opening therethrough, and aspring bearing opening therethrough, and a spring bearing between saidclosure and valve disk and adapted to normally urge said valve disk toits closed position, said valve disk being shaped so as to permit air toflow from said mouthpiece to said outlet when said valve is movedagainst the pressure of said spring.

3. A device for exercising the lungs, comprising a body shaped to form amouthpiece at one end, a contracted bore extending inward of the bodythrough said mouthpiece, an enlarged bore extending into the body fromthe opposite end and communicating with said first bore, a valve diskslidably mounted in said enlarged bore and adapted to close the innerend of said contracted bore, a closure for the outer end of saidenlarged bore and having a contracted outlet between said closure andvalve disk and adapted to normally urge said valve disk to its closedposition, said valve disk having notches in its periphery adapted topermit the air to flow past said disk when moved against the pressure ofsaid spring.

at. A device of the class described, comprising a body having an airpassage extending through it from-end to end and comprising contractedinlet and outlet apertures at opposite ends and an enlarged chamberbetween said apertures, a mouthpiece on said body at the inlet end, avalve seat at the inlet side of said chamber, a valve slidably mountedin said chamber at the outlet side of said seat, and a spring normallyurging said valve toward said seat, said valve being adapted to permitair to flow from said inlet to said outlet when said valve is away fromits seat.

VICTOR J. SGHAEFFER. JAMES M. DEMPSEY.-

\Vitnesses l/VILLIAM HoTH, MATTHEW W. SEIMETZ.

